On 22 April 2020 Conservative equalities minister Liz Truss announced plans for reforms to the Gender Recognition Act yesterday, which would not only deny vital life saving medication and puberty blockers to trans youth and limit Trans people to using gender-neutral toilets, but would also set us back years, seriously diluting progress. Here is the Pink News article with all the facts.

My awesome friend (proud to say) Jacqui Devon hear this and decided that she would use her time in lockdown to do something about it. Jacqui’s Not a Phase campaign jumped off straight away and her self-designed tees starting popping up all over social media, raising awareness of the need to support trans you, but also raising loads of money for Mermaids UK. When we recorded, Not a Phase had raised nearly £1,500, which will 100% have surpassed that by now as the campaign grows daily.

Jacqui honestly discusses her experience of bullying, leading to her being taken out of school. Sadly, her experience is not uncommon, highlighting exactly why we need to support trans rights and fight to dissolve the proposed GRA reforms. Jacqui knows first-hand why organisations like Mermaids UK are vital to helping gender-diverse kids, young people and their families.

PLEASE get yourself a Not a Phase tee and post it on social media and tag @mermaidsgender @jacquidevon and @lgbtpillars, using hashtags #notaphase and #lgbtqpillars . They’re only 15quid and 100% of the profit goes to Mermaids UK.

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When I first spoke with Moosa I made no secret if the fact that i knew very little about Islam, about Oman or about living as Queer Muslim, and that is why I was so pleased that he agreed to talk to me. Part of me felt embarrassed that I didn’t know more about the lives of my neighbours and colleagues, or the people I see on the street daily. I felt pretty ignorant, but Moosa was very kind and explained that he enjoyed how genuine I was and he handled my questions gracefully.

I was excited to learn more about Oman, about Islam and his experience of growing up Queer in a muslim country, but also how his perception have changed since moving to the UK. I thought that people like me, who have had little opportunity to engage in open conversations about Islam would feel massively enlightened by the conversation, but equally i felt that Muslim people, specifically Queer Muslims would be inspired by hearing an openly Gay Muslim man share his experience of balancing both parts of his identity and living a happy and fruitful life.

Moosa moved to the UK in 2008 to study in Aberdeen, before moving to Cardiff. After moving to London, Moosa founded London Queer Muslims in 2017 to challenge the dominant narratives about Queer Muslims. LQM, and Moosa do this “not by debating whether or not it is correct to be Muslim and Queer, but by actualising a post-debate space, where Islamic identity is agreed and accepted as something that is not at odds with Queerness.”

LQM's work support other Queer Muslim networks such as Hidayah, Imaan and Naz and Matt Foundation.

We recorded this at the beginning of Ramadan and I want to thank Moosa for giving up his time during such an important time of year for him and Muslim people worldwide.

Due to timing, it worked out that this would be released on Eid, at the of Ramadan and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with a wonderfully warm, open and educational conversation with Moosa.

Eid Mubarak.

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This is not the story of a wedding planner. This is the result of decades of individuals doing selfless activism to achieve something so very simple, the right to love. Lorna is one of those people and she has an Instagram full of beautiful photos to prove it.

I met Lorna in 2018 when volunteering with Diversity Role Models. I remember her telling us how how she had just started My Oh My Weddings. It was then the only LGBTQ+ dedicated wedding service in the UK, which is mad when you consider that the marriage equalities act was passed fiver years earlier in 2013.

Lorna has never been one to fit the mould, or 'cookie cutter' as she says. Deciding against university, she landed the job every cool kid dreams of, with the Met forensics team. Shortly after she met her lovely partner Sharon and came out to her parents. Lorna got tired of having to 'out' herself throughout her own wedding journey, constantly explaining to venues, photographers and suppliers, "my wife's name is Sharon, not Aaron." She wanted to make it easier and more pleasant for Queer people to plan their special day, so My Oh My Weddings was born. This beautifully organic process has not only brought real happiness to so many people, but this revolutionary act and dedication to love, meant that Lorna was awarded Wedding Planner of the Year at the National Wedding Awards 2019, just 11 months after starting.

Lorna has been volunteering with Diversity Role Models for a few years and like myself, she adores them and everything they do. Not only does she give up her time to tell her story in schools, but she donates a percentage of every wedding to help them provide diversity and inclusion education for the next gen.

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